Tehran, YJC. Former president has broken out with an enormity of complaints from his days in office.

In a meeting with Iraq-Iraq
war veterans on Monday, former president Mohammad Khatami pointed to
accusations about his relations with foreign entities as attempts toward a
color revolution, saying "I am much above many of those whom they say I have
met. We must indulge to give these people time to meet and speak, but I did not
give time for meeting. We didn’t talk either. They lie when they say such and
such person has given out a prescription for Iran or has held talks with
Khatami in order to come and implement them in Iran. They say I want to act
someone’s prescription in Iran whom I neither have seen nor talked to. I have
taken pains for this revolution. I am a clergyman. There is my record in the revolution.
I want the Islamic Revolution to be an example where Muslim and non-Muslim could
say ‘I can live here, work here, and thrive here.’ I want human rights, healthy
relations with the world, development, and respectable, secure life in the
country to be guaranteed.”

"One of the mottos of Mr. Rouhani
and what has been worked on is the open atmosphere for criticism and freedom,” Khatami
maintained, "Of course criticism is different from destruction. If destructive
currents are not controlled, it will be the same as the Reform term when things
first looked as they do now, but then ended in assassination attempts.”

Khatami further said that he
considers the destructive actions as organized rather than spontaneous, adding "I
do not defend Mr. Rouhani, but the rights, expediency, and security of the
nation. These currents disturb the nation’s security. The performers are few in
number but great in influence. […] We do not want them removed. We want their influence
taken from them, their immunity taken from them so that they are forced to be sensible.
They have tribunes and newspapers. They can go say what they want, provided
that they do not poison the atmosphere, lie, or slander.”

He asserted "The existence of
such Talibanic, harsh currents does not show freedom of expression or freedom
of thought, but signifies destruction and disrespect for the public opinion,
the Leader’s decisions, and the vibe that has come to our society.